American Canyon to dismantle some austerity measures over three years

AMERICAN CANYON -- With congratulations all around, City Council members on Tuesday officially authorized the dismantling of austerity measures enacted three years ago to close a budget deficit.

Crediting successful negotiations with Teamsters Union officials, the council said that City Hall closures and unpaid furlough days for most city employees will diminish over the next three years. Also, most employees will get a 1.5 percent cost of living raise, spread out over the next three years.

Teamsters representative Don E. Garcia said the difference between the most recent negotiations and the ones three years ago, were like "night and day."

The city's mid-level managers rejected the offer, so their situation remains what it's been until they reach a deal with the city.

Council members also renewed their arrangement with the Napa County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services for a flat fee, which rises each year until 2016.

"Between (the arrangements with) the Sheriff's Office and the Teamsters, we have a three-year budget plan now, and that gives us an opportunity to do other things," City Manager Dana Shigley said.

Council members also heard from a Fire District consultant hired to review the district's fees, which were originally adopted in 1980.

The consultant said the formula for how the $570,000 in annual fees was originally calculated for each of the city's districts, has changed, and that her firm recommends imposing them more equitably and uniformly.

The fees work out to about $86 for residential properties now, she said. An ordinance will be needed to create consistency in fee assessments citywide, and one is expected to be presented at the next meeting, which is scheduled for July 16.

Under the new calculations, a few larger commercial/industrial parcels will see an increase while many others will have their fees reduced.

Of the city's 5,300 parcels, some 75 will see their fee rise and the rest will fall, she said.

City staff will be alerting owners in advance, before they see the difference in their bills, council members said.

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at Rachelvth.